Ok...I'm Finally Back!! Lip Shimmer Winner Announced!

Good grief!  This summer was supposed include time for me to unwind, to relax and refocus.  Instead I feel like I've been behind the 8-ball and that I'm barely treading water.  So much for relaxation and regrouping. 

That's life, right? 

Anyway, I was supposed to be back to blogging last week, but I started off the week by cutting the crap out of my finger (I'm ok--I sliced through the center of my right middle-finger, so no 10-finger manis for the next couple of months!) and then spent the rest of the week getting caught up with work.  My blogging time was reduced to nothing, so I was unexpectedly silent.  Sorry about that. 

I have a bunch of loose ends to get to...and I have beauty news to share, of course.  So...I'm back.  I'm hoping to be on more of a routine with the blogging, but I hate to make promises at this point.  Life keeps getting in the way of my plans.  Hrmphf.

Here's one thing I'm horribly overdue on: announcing the winner of my Lip Shimmers Giveaway.  Drumroll, please...

The winner is:

Random number generated by random.org  Horrible photo by my iphone!

Commenter #3: PhairHead!  I'll shoot you an email to arrange for delivery of your prize.  CONGRATS!

Ok--I'll be back with more this week, so stay tuned!

GIVEAWAY: Gloss from the Grapevine!

I live not far from Woodinville, WA, a small town that has a big reputation in the wine world.  Woodinville is home to dozens of wineries (I used to work in one many years ago!), so I have easy access to some very tasty wines.

Wine not only tastes good, it also has some interesting health benefits.  Scientists, leaders in the health field, and (of course) winemakers have spent big bucks researching wine.  Antioxidants and other ingredients in wine, especially red wine, can reduce heart disease, improve the immune system, and reduce stress.

One company, DeVine, is taking all the benefits from red wine and turning them into some very nice, very subtle glosses, called DeVine Lip Shimmers.  The Lip Shimmers contain the same Polyphenols in red wine that are known to help prevent cell damage.  They're also gluten-free, cruelty-free, and contain no harmful chemicals.

DeVine Lip Shimmers come in a variety of shades.  They all seem very light and subtle--giving a hint of shimmer and shine without looking overly reflective or feeling sticky.  The tinted glosses add a kiss of color to freshen up your look.  The 2-pack shimmers are available in Rosé/Merlot, Champagne/Bordeaux, and Vanilla Spritzer. Currently, they are available for $4.99 at Walgreens and www.Devineshimmers.com.

I've been wearing the Vanilla Spritzer and Bordeaux shimmers lately--both give a good amount of moisture, just enough for the summer months.  Plus they smell/taste pretty good.  And for less than $5 for two tubes?  That beats my old go-to (Burt's Bees) on price for sure!

Want to try it out for yourself?  You're in luck! One reader will receive three 2-packs (in the colors mentioned above), thanks to the folks at DeVine.  All you need to do is leave a comment (include your email address or be sure I have some way of getting in touch with you) AND like DeVine Lip Shimmers on facebook by Sunday, July 24th.  I'll announce the winner on the 25th.

Good luck!

Two Quickies...

First off, let me apologize for my absence this week.  I have no excuse for my lack of posts...I actually have a TON of stuff to blog about, but I just haven't had the time or energy to face my computer.  Sometimes we just need a little break, I suppose...and I am taking that break now.

As I mentioned, I do have plenty to write about.  I should be back to posting at my normal pace next week (that's the goal, at least!).  So...hang in there and I promise I'll be back.

Second, I thought I'd drop by really quick to let you know about this month's features and giveaway over at Freebeautyevents.com.  In case you need a reminder, freebeautyevents.com lists hosts giveaways, provides updates on events where you can get free samples or tips, etc.  This month, L’Oreal will demonstrating their True Match lines at select Rite Aids around the country as well as handing out coupons and samples.  If you want to see if they're coming to your area, check out the freebeautyevents.com site.

For the February, they're giving away 10 prizes. Each prize will consist of an Almay Smart Shade Concealer, Wake Up Makeup, Intense i-Color Smoky-i Eyeshadow, and Get Up & Grow Mascara!  The Contest runs from 2/1/2011 to 2/28/2011, winners will be chosen on 3/5/2011 and notified by 3/15/2011.

Nice! Check it out.

Enjoy the weekend and the snow (if you have it!)

January Giveaway at Free Beauty Events

Every month, I remind you to visit the Free Beauty Events website for the latest in demos and giveaways. This month, for example, L’Oreal will demonstrating their True Match lines at select Rite Aids around the country as well as handing out coupons and samples. This information is available for free on the Free Beauty Events site. You can enter your zip code to find out what makeover, gift with purchase, spa open houses and sampling events are happening near your home.

In addition to listing in-store makeovers, Freebeautyevents.com also features a blog on product reviews (http://www.freebeautyevents.com/beauty-blog) and a monthly contest http://www.freebeautyevents.com/contest They also do a contest each week with a smaller prize on their blog. Please feel free to enter these contests yourself, the odds of winning last weeks contest of the week were 1 out of 8!

For the month of January 2011, they will be giving away 10 prizes. Each prize will consist of a Venus Embrace Razor Kit and Revlon Expert Shapers Emery Boards! The Contest runs from 1/1/2011 to 1/31/2011, winners will be chosen on 2/5/2011 and notified by 2/15/2011.

Head over there and enter!

Smooth Operator

Shaving is a pain.  Not only do you risk injury, but you're probably also coating your legs in some iffy chemicals when you use normal run-of-the-mill shave creams, foams, and gels.

I recently tried a few products from Pacific Shaving Company and, though they didn't make shaving the most pleasurable moment of my day, they were a nice change of pace.  Pacific Shaving Company makes both an all natural shaving oil and an all natural shaving cream.

ALL NATURAL SHAVING OIL, $6.95
Designed for both men and women, shaving oil comes in a tiny bottle--but a little goes a long way.  Here's what the company says about the oil: provides a consistently smooth shave that leaves your face conditioned and moisturized, not oily. It also applies clear so you can finally see where you're shaving - particularly great for shaving around blemishes, sculpting a beard or moustache - even shaving your head! (Ladies - say goodbye to those cuts around your ankles.).  Here's my take: I didn't use this on my legs--I wasn't sure how it would do over a larger area.  But I did try it for my underarms and it was nice.  I liked that it was clear so I could see what I was doing.  It would probably be good for the bikini area, too.

ALL NATURAL SHAVING CREAM, $8.95
Also for men and women. From the company: With natural and certified organic ingredients, our unique, low-lather formula is about to become your skin's best friend. But this isn't only about closer shaves - it's got you covered before, during and after. Here's what you can expect: Softer whiskers and superior lubrication, Healthy, hydrated and soothed skin, Protection from harsh environmental factors. And now my take: Of the two, I prefer this product. I like the feel of it better and I really like that a shave cream wasn't a bright, artificial color. I used this on my legs and it did a good job. I think I am way too used to crappy shave creams, but this was a decent, more natural alternative.

Pacific Shaving Company products can be purchased at Whole Foods, Target, CVS, and drugstore.com.

Want to win a year's supply of Pacific Shaving Company Products?  Head over to their Facebook page by the 15th to be a big winner!

Win Free Stuff--A Great Way to Round out the Year!

Happy Monday!  Are you ready for another fun-filled week of work and school?  I just need to get through this week, because after this Friday, I am a free woman!  One of the few benefits of my job is that I get two weeks off around the holidays.  What a great way to end the year.

Another great way to end the year is by winning some awesome beauty products.  If you head over to FreeBeautyEvents.com, you could do just that.  The site hosts weekly and monthly beauty giveaways, and all you need to do to enter is visit their site, fill out some info and viola!  You could win a beauty product booty.

For the month of December 2010, they'll be giving away 10 prizes. Each prize will consist of Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream, Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisturizer, and Garnier Ultra-Lift Daily Targeted Wrinkle Treatment! The Contest runs from 12/1/2010 to 12/31/2010, winners will be chosen on 1/5/2011 and notified by 1/15/2011. To enter, go to http://www.freebeautyevents.com/contest. They also do a contest each week with a smaller prize on their blog.

They also feature beauty events going on across the country where you can score more free goodies and get some tips. This month, for example, L’Oreal will be demonstrating their hottest products at select CVS stores as well as handing out coupons and samples. In addition, in December Coty will be promoting their holiday fragrance gift sets at Rite Aid in New York and Pennsylvania. All this information is available for free on the FreeBeautyEvent.com site.

Head over, get informed, and enter to win something good!  It may just make your Monday suck a little less.

Want Free Stuff from Revlon?

Lately, I've been telling you about a fun new site called Free Beauty Events. The site offers info on free makeovers, free samples and a chance to win beauty products in their monthly contest.

This month, they're having another great giveaway: a Revlon Beauty Package. For the month of September ten winners will win an assortment of Revlon products - Revlon Powder Brush, File-n-Smooth Nail File, Age Defying Concealer, Lipstick, Grow Luscious Mascara, and PhotoReady Foundation. Website visitors have until 9/30 to enter and winners will be chosen on 10/5/2010.    Head over to the Free Beauty Events Contest page for all the details and to enter.

Best of luck!

Perricone Winner!

Congratulations to LACY!  She is the winner of my latest giveaway and will receive a full size of Perricone's Concentrated Restorative Treatment.  Lacy: I'll email you ASAP.

For the rest of you: Hang tight.  You never know when I'll have another giveaway!

Final Reminder!

Happy weekend!  Summer is slipping away--not cool!

Time is running out for you to enter my current giveaway!  I'm giving away a full-sized jar of Perricone's Concentrated Restorative Treatment, a $100 value.  It takes just a second to enter.  Click here for the details and enter today.

Now...get out there and enjoy what's left of summer.

Don't Forget to Enter!

Happy Friday!  I'm looking forward to a few days off...away from the work world.

Don't forget to enter my current giveaway!  I'm giving away a full-sized jar of Perricone's Concentrated Restorative Treatment, a $100 value.  It takes just a second to enter.  Click here for the details and enter today!

Hope you have a great weekend.

Give Away! Perricone Concentrated Restorative Treatment

I'm very excited about today's post!  The folks over at Perricone are sponsoring an awesome giveaway to Kiss & Makeup readers, so please keep reading for all the important details.

There are a ton of anti-aging products on the market, but I've been seeing a lot of great press about  Perricone products.  I've heard that Dr. Perricone No Foundation Foundation provides killer results in the form of dewy, flawless skin without layers of makeup.  Celebs swear by this stuff!  Similarly, Dr. Perricone Deep Wrinkle Serum can reduce deep lines and renew elasticity.  It seems like no matter what Perricone product you try, you're going to get amazing results. 

Perricone's Concentrated Restorative Treatment contains mega-doses of Vitamin C Ester, which restores the skin's texture and helps improve tone.  I'm (only) in my mid-30s, but I need to start stepping it up with my anti-aging regime.  Perricone's Concentrated Restorative Treatment seems like a powerful tool in the battle against wrinkles, discoloration, and saggy skin.

If YOU want to try Perricone's Concentrated Restorative Treatment for yourself, you're in luck!  Perricone is offering one reader a full-sized jar of this customer favorite.  If you want to win (and trust me, you do!), just leave a comment and tell me WHY you want (or need!) to try this product.  Please be sure to leave your comment by noon PST on Monday, August 2rd.  Sorry!  This contest is open to readers in the U.S. and Canada only.

Thanks and good luck!

More Goodies from Free Beauty Events!

Last month, I told you all about a fun new site called Free Beauty Events. The site offers info on free makeovers, free samples and a chance to win beauty products in their monthly contest.

This month, they're giving away the chance to win RoC Brilliance Eye Beautifier – a $45 Value! The Contest runs from 8/1/2010 to 8/31/2010, winners will be chosen on 9/5/2010 and notified by 9/15/2010.  Head over to the Free Beauty Events Contest page for all the details and to enter.

Best of luck!

Another Year Has Flown By!

Wow! July is the month when my silly little blog was born. At the time I started I had no idea what it would become or how long it would last. I never thought I'd be going on strong 4 years later. Woo-hoo.

In honor of my "blogiversary" I'm giving away something kinda awesome: a Celebration gift package from one of my favorite places: LUSH!!! The Celebration package contains Lush's fresh grapefruit shower gel, tingly mint soap, stimulating sand-packed exfoliating soap, fruity massage bar, and hangover-helping Emotibomb.

To enter to win: Leave a comment on this post letting me know what you want to see more of here on Kiss & Makeup. Be sure to leave a way to contact you and--I hate to say it--but this giveaway is open to U.S. residents only (sorry, international gals--I love you, but that's the way it goes). You have until midnight on July 26th (July 27th, 2006 is the day this blog got started!) to enter.

Good luck!

Congrats!

Congrats to Heavy Hedonist! You are my Lumene winner! Be sure to check for an email from me very soon.

For the rest of you, I'm sure I'll be offering another giveaway soon enough.

Final Reminder

Don't forget: I'm giving away a basket filled with awesome skin care products from Lumene. I'll be announcing my big winner tomorrow! You still have time to enter. Just be sure to read this post. Best of luck!

Don't Forget to Enter!

Don't forget: I'm giving away a basket filled with awesome skin care products from Lumene. All you need to do to enter is read this post. Best of luck!

Lumene Rocks! (Contest)

The good folks from Lumene are giving away over $100 worth of Lumene products to one of my lucky readers! Be sure to read all the details and leave a comment--you're going to want to win this one!

THE GOODS
Lumene is giving away a basket of their Excellent Future products (Lumene Excellent Future Deep Repairing Cream, Lumene Excellent Future Deep Repairing Serum, Lumene Excellent Future Deep Repairing Eye Cream and Lumene Excellent Future Deep Repairing Night Cream). I tried out these products at the end of 2009 and loved them (as I've enjoyed almost every Lumene product that's come my way!).

Here's more about the Excellent Future line: Innovative and powerful Lumene products utilize modern stem cell technology. Beneath the skin's surface lies invisible damage caused by genetic aging and external factors. These ultramodern products help to prevent and delay damage from surfacing. They also help to prevent the formation of wrinkles and to smooth the appearance of wrinkles that has already formed.

Lumene's Excellent Future products repair and protect skin, especially for us who are over the age of 30. Skin contains cells that play a key role in preserving its youthful appearance, stem cells. At the age of 30, skin's ability to repair itself has weakened because the stem cell functions have slowed down. By protecting these vital cells the skin's ability to repair itself is promoted. Excellent Future Cream contains innovative ApplexcellT™ which Apple Extract protects skin's stem-cells and Arctic White Peat that provides the cells with optimal environment.

HOW TO ENTER
It's easy! If you want to receive this basket of Lumene Excellent Future products, just leave a comment (make sure I have a way of contacting you)! I'll announce the winner next Wednesday, June 23rd. (NOTE: this contest is open to readers in the US only--sorry!)

Good luck!

Post Mother Day Makeover Opportunity

Yesterday was Mother's Day here in the good old US. Mother's Day may be done, but there's one more chance for your favorite mom to be pampered. Nexxus and Lock of Love are teaming up to honor Mother/Daughter hair donors with a makeover.

My husband has donated to Locks of Love twice--it's a great organization that's certainly worth supporting. Here are the deets on the contest:

Nexxus and Locks of Love invite Facebook fans to enter the “Mother’s Day Makeover Contest” where they can share their stories about why they or their children want to donate hair to this worthwhile cause. Click here to enter contest – Nexxus and Locks of Love Facebook Contest/Sweeps

Any individual or mother/child pair with at least 10 inches of hair they are willing to donate to Locks of Love can enter. See official rules for further details. Facebook fans will participate in choosing the winners from five finalists.

GRAND PRIZE: The grand prize winners will receive a trip for two to NYC and a styling session with Nexxus celebrity stylist Kevin Mancuso. The hair that’s donated will be sent to Locks of Love on the winner’s behalf.

WHERE/WHEN: Between now and May 25th, Nexxus fans will have the opportunity to enter the “Mother’s Day Makeover Contest.”

Submit Entry for Mother/Daughter Contest:
1. Go to Nexxus and Locks of Love Facebook Contest/Sweeps and click “Like”
2. Click on the “Contest/Sweepstakes” tab
3. Follow the provided instructions

Contest Timeline:
* May 5 to May 25th: Submissions accepted
* May 26th: Top five finalists announced
* May 26th to June 2nd: Fans are able to vote on their favorite submissions
* June 7th: Winners announced

ABOUT NEXXUS: Nexxus Salon Hair Care provides the products and expertise to help women achieve beautiful hair for those moments in life when it matters most.

ABOUT LOCKS OF LOVE: Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

ecoTOOLS Winners!

Congratulations Janey and Pamela! You are my ecoTOOLS winners. Please look for an email from me soon.

Thanks!

Don't Forget to Enter!

Don't forget: I'm giving away some goodies from ecoTOOLS! Click here for details and to enter.